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Network fee on Big Tech not a viable solution to boost EU digital rollout, EU says
Network fee on Big Tech not a viable solution to boost EU digital rollout, EU says

The Star

time10 hours ago

  • Business
  • The Star

Network fee on Big Tech not a viable solution to boost EU digital rollout, EU says

FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a 5G logo during GSMA's 2022 Mobile World Congress (MWC), in Barcelona, Spain, March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Commission does not think that imposing a network fee on Big Tech companies is a viable solution to the debate over who should fund the rollout of 5G and broadband, a spokesman for the EU executive said on Thursday. The issue pits Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Telecom Italia against Alphabet's Google, Meta's Facebook, Netflix, Microsoft and Amazon. Europe's major telecoms operators have for years urged EU regulators to get Big Tech to bear some of the rollout costs because they make up a huge part of internet traffic, calling it fair share funding. Big Tech has pushed back, characterising it as an internet tax while pointing to their own efforts to increase the efficiency of their services. The debate has gained in intensity following a White House fact sheet released on July 28 following a trade deal with the European Union which said that the bloc confirmed that it would not adopt or maintain network usage fees. While reaffirming that the EU has the sovereign rights to legislate on its digital infrastructure, Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier said a White Paper or guidance paper issued last year had already decided on the issue of network fees. "We have published a White Paper last year in February. Based on the findings of this White Paper, we have assessed and we believe that imposing a network fee is not a viable solution," Regnier told a daily press conference when asked about the White House fact sheet. "What is important to clarify now is that such an exemption would not apply to U.S. companies only," he said. The Commission is expected to issue a legislative proposal called the Digital Networks Act in November which will take a more comprehensive approach to boost digital infrastructure across Europe. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, additional reporting by Bart Meijers in Amsterdam; editing by Giles Elgood)

Microsoft in advanced talks for continued access to OpenAI tech, Bloomberg News reports
Microsoft in advanced talks for continued access to OpenAI tech, Bloomberg News reports

The Star

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • The Star

Microsoft in advanced talks for continued access to OpenAI tech, Bloomberg News reports

FILE PHOTO: A man looks at his phone in front of the Microsoft logo during the 2025 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, March 3, 2025. REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo (Reuters) -Microsoft is in advanced talks for a deal that would give the Windows maker continued access to critical OpenAI technology in the future, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing two people familiar with the negotiations. The companies have discussed new terms that would allow Microsoft to use OpenAI's latest models and technology even if the ChatGPT maker declares it has achieved artificial general intelligence (AGI), or AI that surpasses human intelligence, the report said. A clause in OpenAI's current contract with Microsoft will shut the software giant out of some rights to the startup's advanced technology when it achieves AGI. Negotiators have been meeting regularly, and an agreement could come together in a matter of weeks, Bloomberg News reported. Microsoft and OpenAI did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. OpenAI needs Microsoft's approval to complete its transition into a public-benefit corporation. The two have been in negotiations for months to revise the terms of their investment, including the future equity stake Microsoft will hold in OpenAI. Last month, The Information reported that Microsoft and OpenAI were at odds over the AGI clause. OpenAI is also facing a lawsuit from Elon Musk, who co-founded the company with Sam Altman in 2015 but left before it surged in popularity, accusing OpenAI of straying from its founding mission — to develop AI for the good of humanity, not corporate profit. Microsoft is set to report June quarter earnings on Wednesday, with its relationship with OpenAI in the spotlight, as the startup turns to rivals Google, Oracle and CoreWeave for cloud capacity. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)

Soccer-Xavi application for India coaching job was a hoax, AIFF says
Soccer-Xavi application for India coaching job was a hoax, AIFF says

The Star

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • The Star

Soccer-Xavi application for India coaching job was a hoax, AIFF says

Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona Training - Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain - November 3, 2023 Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez with players during training REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo (Reuters) -The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed on Saturday that a job application attributed to former Barcelona manager and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez for the India head coaching role was a hoax. The AIFF's national team director told The Times of India on Thursday that Xavi's name was on the list of applicants. The report also quoted an AIFF technical committee member saying the his candidacy was deemed too expensive to pursue. "The AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine," the AIFF said in a statement. It had not been previously reported that the AIFF had also received an application purporting to be from Manchester City manager Guardiola. The AIFF Technical Committee said it had reviewed 170 applications for the Indian men's head coach role, narrowing the list to 10 before short-listing three candidates. The AIFF sacked former India manger Igor Stimac in June last year before appointing Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who left the job this month and returned to his role as coach of Indian Super League team FC Goa. (Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)

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